Search - Luis Rivera, Doc Bagby :: Battle of the Organs

Extremely Rare Juice from the Vaults ! ! !

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 09/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the early days of Rock and Roll, KING records managed to pump out a steady steady stream of R & B crossover instrumentals that definitely got the house a rocking'- - this was a sound that would pre-date Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff, yet establish the sound that in years to come they'd take to even new heights of popularity. - - Two names that come right to mind would be Bill "Honky Tonk" Doggett and Earl Bostic (of Flamingo fame - - listen to Jazz Time, featuring Groove Holmes !)Up until the name Doc Bagby enterered my vocabulary, when it came to the "greats lost in time" category, I would have thought that Bostic and Doggett pretty much had it as bad as you could get, but then I was pointed in the direction of this album - A few Jazz buffs might recall Doc Bagby as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis's organist (before Shirley Scott) - - however, when was the last time Luis Rivera came up at the supper table ?What makes this record so great is the versatility of these organists... a versatility lacking in many of those to follow.. yes, those 1950's/early 60's organ grinding honky tonk instrumental blues are there, but Doc Bagby swings hard equally as an ensemble player as he does as a soloist - - take Memories of You, a syrupy or gushy ballad in the hands of a lesser player, but without any accompaniment beyond his left hand and pedals Doc delivers it in a refreshing and soulful brightness that you would have never heard those old time Sunday morning TV organists do... - - I Want A Little Girl has a swinging bounce that would make even Jack McDuff smile. The second half of the CD features Luis Rivera all stops out with a full ensemble that seems to include Eddie Lockjaw Davis on Tenor and Charlie Rice (of Louis Jordan fame) on drums - - Unlike Doc Bagby he leaves the walking to an upright bass player) - - while the sound of the tenor dominates the recordings, Luis Rivera shouts out them chords with soul and bravado - - presenting a swinging block chord style that leans a bit more towards Wild Bill and Milt Buckner, and brings the album to a complimentary climax.Gosh - - if I can't find more Dog Bagby and Luis Rivera stuff to add to my collection I'll go nuts ! Whatever, for the true swining and bluesy Hammond Organ buff, this CD definitely belongs at the top of any shopping list !"